Minority Business Summit brings together small businesses for inspiration, information and community

“It is belief -- not only funding, not only followers – but belief that is the real currency of entrepreneurship,” said Abena Sankofa Imhotep, one of the keynote speakers at the QC Chamber’s Minority Business Summit on October 29.

Imhotep’s inspirational presentation, Radical Enterprise: On Black Thought, Creative Power and the Business of Belief, kicked off a full day of networking, workshops and exhibitors.

Imhotep, an award-winning author, scholar and activist encouraged the room to, “Be ready to embrace our full responsibility as creators and builders and thought leaders.” She said she hoped the Summit would “Press attendees to think bigger, together.”

After a lively and informative Q&A session with the author, participants browsed the exhibitor space, networked and prepared to attend workshops on Accounting Essentials, Navigating Government Contracts & Certifications, Digital Transformation & Marketing for Growth and AI for Small Business.

Event organizer James Porter, Vice President, Small & Minority Business for the Chamber, said that in addition to inspiring people, he hoped the Summit would help fill the information and resource gaps that can sometimes be barriers for small businesses. “One of the Chamber’s goals is for entrepreneurs and business owners to understand business essentials like loan applications. In the Quad Cities, we have a lot of ambitious go-getters. So, we’re trying to mesh that ambitiousness with information and education,” he said. This is part of the Chamber's new emphasis on launching programs and events to support business growth, offer training, provide resources and boost promotions.

“We had over 40 attendees and 21 exhibitors this year,” said Joanna Drake, Manager, Small & Minority Business. “I felt people left the event knowing the resources that are out there. But I also felt they were encouraged by the opening and closing keynote speakers - specifically around changing their mindsets when it comes to problems within their business. I could tell that people were really engaged and were able to show their vulnerability to each other.”

Closing keynote speaker Vanessa McNeal, a former Quad Citizen, ended the program with her presentation, The Readiness Myth: Mental & Emotional Mastery Solutions, designed to help high-achievers unlock clarity, confidence and authentic success through neuroscience-backed strategies.

"Today, I spoke about the readiness myth—the lie that keeps us waiting on the sidelines of our own lives," said McNeal. "If we wait to feel ready, we may wait forever. The truth? You don’t leave fear behind. You take it with you. You do it afraid. Every challenge I've overcome, every dream I've dared to chase - it all led here," she said. "Some circles close perfectly."